The Easter Bunny doesn’t come to France on Easter, but we do have flying bells!

The Tradition of “Les Cloches”

The legend of les cloches (the bells) of Easter stems from the fact that in Catholic tradition, church bells are not rung between Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday, as a sort of mourning for Jesus, whom Catholics believe rises from the dead on Easter. In France, where there is a church in every town, children would often ask why the bells weren’t ringing, and parents would tell their little ones that les cloches had gone to Rome to be blessed by the Pope before coming back in time for Easter Mass.

Every year, the bells are rung for the first time after Saturday’s Easter Vigil Mass; if you ask any French child, on the return trip from Rome, les cloches come filled with candies and other treats that they drop into their gardens – thus the Easter morning surprise of treats and eggs to uncover.

The Easter Bunny

Funnily enough, the Easter bunny tradition does exist in one place in France: in the east. That’s because our Easter bunny actually hails from Germany, which shares a border with eastern France: this more pagan symbol stands for new life and fertility as spring begins.

Even though the Easter bunny isn’t a French tradition, you will find its likeness in one very specific place throughout France: chocolate shops.

Easter Chocolates

Whether it’s the bunny or the bells that bring you treats for Easter, one thing’s for sure: everyone loves chocolate. Most of Paris’ chocolatiers have already started putting out their multicolored eggs, bunnies, bells, and chicks for the occasion. Discover some of our favorites with our Sweet Tooth tour the next time you’re in the city!